Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia [Hardcover]

Ted Lewin (Author), Betsy Lewin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

"Giingooo! Giiiingoooooo!" Tamir and the other young jockeys sing to their horses in wailing, high-pitched voices. They are getting ready to ride in the Naadam, the Mongolian summer festival. Tamir is one of many boys and girls who will race half-wild horses across the open desert for honor and glory.

It is these legendary child jockeys that Ted and Betsy Lewin have traveled to Mongolia to see. In the camp of the horse trainers, the Lewins marvel at the skill of the riders as they "sweat up" their horses, galloping by in swirls of dust and thundering hooves. On the day of the big race, everyone is up before sunrise, watching the riders begin their long trek to the starting line. Will Tamir be able to keep control of his horse during the fourteen-mile race? Who will emerge as the winner as the shimmering dust cloud of riders approaches the finish line?

With a contagious love of travel and adventure, and vivid, action-packed paintings, Ted and Betsy Lewin invite readers to experience the unique thrill of a Naadam horse race. "Giiiingoooooo!"

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2–6—This colorful travelogue recounts the Lewins' trip to Mongolia to experience the annual summer celebration Naadam, in particular the horse-racing competition. It focuses on young Tamir as he prepares for and participates in the event. Information about Mongolian culture and the holiday's traditions are interspersed with an account of the competition. An introduction provides brief background, and unfamiliar terms are explained in context and in the glossary. Betsy Lewin's lively line-and-wash cartoon sketches and spot drawings are intermingled with Ted Lewin's sweeping watercolor paintings, which make effective use of light and rich color to portray both the intensity of the competition and the pageantry of the celebration. For the most part, the writing is tight and fast-paced, reflecting the event it describes. At other times, it becomes flowery and chatty. While perhaps not an essential purchase, the book provides a dynamic view of a culture rarely portrayed in children's books and an event that is sure to interest many young readers.—Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* The Lewins follow travelogue titles such as Top to Bottom Down Under (2005) with another picture-book chronicle of international adventure. This time, they visit Mongolia, where they witnessed the Naadam festival—a celebration that brings together nomadic tribes for sports competitions. The most popular events are the horse races featuring child jockeys who guide their “half-wild” steeds through a long, arduous course. In simple, captivating language, the Lewins describe their long journey to the horse trainers’ camp, where they connect with a skilled nine-year-old jockey, Tamir, and his family, and learn about local customs—from the specifics of Mongolian horse wrangling to staple foods, such as mare’s milk. Then the festival begins, and the Lewins give a heart-pounding, moment-by-moment account of Tamir’s race: “The crowd strains forward. The pounding of hooves grows louder . . . The stallions are at full gallop.” Throughout, clearly presented cultural specifics mix with vivid sensory perceptions that will help children imagine themselves on the windy steppes, but it’s the color-washed sketches and beautiful full-page spreads of the thundering horses and jubilant festivalgoers that will truly capture readers’ attention and draw them into this handsome, heartfelt glimpse of a rarely featured culture. Children, and teachers, seeking more information will appreciate the closing spreads, which include additional cultural commentary and a glossary. Grades 2-5. --Gillian Engberg

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books (March 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584302771
• ISBN-13: 978-1584302773
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #437,133 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book that captures the spirit of Mongolia's Naadam Festival, April 4, 2008

By 

Lauren Bonilla (Princeton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia (Hardcover)

This book is absolutely wonderful for children, teachers, parents, anthropologists, and Mongolia enthusiasts alike! Ted and Betsy Lewin creatively captured the spirit and splendor of Naadam, a vibrant festival showcasing Mongolia's talented sportsmen and women. This book transports readers to the vast Mongolian steppe and lets them imagine what it would be like to stand shoulder to shoulder with locals, cheering for horses and young jockeys crossing the finish line after an emotional and exhausting race.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children, August 15, 2008

By 

Yana V. Rodgers "econkids.rutgers.edu" (New Brunswick, NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia (Hardcover)

The Naadam, an annual festival held throughout Mongolia that features horse racing, is thought to be one of the world's oldest sporting events, second only to the Olympics. Told from Ted and Betsy Lewin's point of view and based on events during their journey to Southern Mongolia, the story highlights one of those horse races across a fourteen-mile stretch of the Gobi Desert. At a camp of horse trainers about 800 miles away from the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, a nomad family has kindly offered the Lewins their hospitality. The reader also meets a nine-year old member of this family, Tamir, who is hard at work training his half-wild race horse in preparation for the upcoming Naadam. Much of the book chronicles the way of life for this family in the desert, the practice of "sweating up" the horses for the race, and the enormous excitement on race day.

Although the book focuses on the horse race competition and the question of how Tamir will perfom as a jockey, the authors have carefully woven in a set of economics lessons related to natural and human resources. For example, the family members use the milk from their mares, sheep, cows, and goats to make a variety of food and drink items. Also, the abundance of horses in Mongolia (there may be three times as many horses as people), helps to explain the popularity of horse racing. The intricate illustrations further help to convey how the family maintains its livelihood in the desert. Children and adults alike will appreciate the book's exciting plot, strong substantive content, and unique focus on Mongolia.